Emotional day at Delta

STOCKTON - Eric Orth brought many in the gathering inside of Budd 205 to tears Wednesday.

Mark Godi

STOCKTON - Eric Orth brought many in the gathering inside of Budd 205 to tears Wednesday.

Delta College hosted its second annual National Signing Day ceremony with Orth, a defensive back from St. Mary's, among those officially committing to four-year schools. A two-year starting cornerback, Orth signed with Division II Southwest Oklahoma State.

Orth tried to hide his tears under a tightly drawn baseball cap, but got emotional while thanking his mother, Juanita Dutra, and father, Bejay Orth, for "all their help" over the years. The third-year sophomore was joined by teammates De'Marieya Nelson (Arizona State), Joey Lagarbo (UC Davis) and Elijah Saina (Eastern New Mexico).

"I keep to myself and don't get emotional very often," Orth said. "This is a special day I've been waiting on for a long time. It was tough at times, but my parents were there for me through it all."

Orth was part of a sophomore trio of cornerbacks Delta rotated last fall with Forrest Coleman and Abram Piggee. Piggee signed with Southwest Oklahoma during the midyear signing period and is already in Weatherford. Coleman has interest from Wyoming and New Mexico, but plans to wait until after spring.

Recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Doug Murray believes Delta could have close to 20 players accept scholarships before next season.

"I think 20 is doable," Murray said. "We have a bunch of other guys who have interest or offers, who for one reason or another, either can't accept them yet or would like to wait."

Nelson, a tight end and running back, gives the Mustangs two Pac-12 signings in as many years after Josh Banks signed with Washington last year. Nelson verbally committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 19 and kept his word after Arkansas offered him Friday and pushed for an official visit.

"Arizona State just felt like the best fit for me," Nelson said. "The head coach (Todd Graham) called after I faxed my letter and said he can't wait to see me."

Saina, who is from Stagg, was joined by his parents. He got his Division II offer on Tuesday after starting last fall at defensive end. He was second on the team with five sacks.

"I feel so blessed right now," Saina said. "I had some interest from another Division II school in Kansas, but then (Eastern New Mexico) came through."

Lagarbo, a defensive tackle from Lincoln, leaves Delta with a 3.96 grade-point average and plans on being a pre-med major. He was an all-conference selection in the fall and chose UC Davis over Sacramento State.

"I'm glad this is all over with," Lagarbo said. "Now I can forget about the drama and focus on school and working out."

» Lincoln alums Solomon Means and Donzale Ashley, who both competed at Butte College, signed on Wednesday. Means, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback, will join Nelson at Arizona State, and Ashley, a 6-2, 200-pound strong safety, is heading to Division II Ashland.